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and hopes the German makes Ryder Cup team with strong summer

Last Updated: 12/05/14 2:38pm

Martin Kaymer: back in the world's elite with victory at the PLAYERS Championship at Sawgrass

Kaymer survived a late scare at the TPC Sawgrass course, returning with a three-stroke lead from a 90-minute weather delay in the final round, to double bogey the 15th, before securing a one shot victory over Jim Furyk - who hit a fantastic round of 66 - by putting a 3ft 7in par shot, in semi-darkness to take home the $1.8million purse.

The victory means the 29-year-old former world No.1 may have played himself in to the Ryder Cup script once more, two years after having such a pivotal role in the European victory at Medinah.

McGinley will select the team for this year's event in Gleneagles, and he told Sky Sports he hopes Kaymer goes forward from this win with a strong summer.

"I think a Martin Kaymer playing well, you'd want him on the team," said McGinley.

"This is a big boost for him but it's like all the guys, there's another three or months to go before the Ryder Cup and it's important they don't start thinking about the Ryder Cup; they have to try and win the major championships and win the events and stay focused.

"Hopefully Martin will have a good strong summer now and make his way on to the team."

Earlier in the week McGinley walked holes in practice with Kaymer, where the German said: "I'm still a few points behind but I will do everything I can to make the team. It will be really nice to part of it again; once you've done it once you always want to be there."

Coast

The win puts Kaymer back in the World Top 50 rankings after three years of perplexing form since holding the No.1 position for eight weeks in 2011.

He now joins Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott as the only players to win a major, a World Golf Championship and The Players Championship.

McGinley added that Kaymer, who led from day one in Florida, deserves credit for regrouping and holding on to victory in difficult conditions.

He said: "I'm so happy for him. He's led from the start and we all know how difficult it is to lead from day one.

"Jim Furyk posted a great score and hit a great putt on 18 - he was a little bit unfortunate it didn't go in because -13 would have really put the cat among the pigeons.

"It was Martin's week and all credit to him.

"He had one hand on it and looked like he was going to coast to winning it but then he had to stop and regroup and it was difficult. He had to go out and win it again and all credit to him.

"Martin is a very popular guy. He goes about his business in a very quiet way and he's one of those nice guys and everyone has a nice word to say about him."